How to Honeymoon for Less

My honeymoon has been in the back of my mind as I constantly work through my wedding budget over the next year (wedding day July 21, 2018!). From my days as a travel agent I spent countess hours searching for other peoples’ vacations but I can finally do it for myself! Check out what Sandra Moncada suggests for maintaining your honeymoon budget!

Many couples forget that the honeymoon is a large part of their budget. Not planning for this expense can blow any financial preparations you’ve made.

Don’t worry. There are ways to have a wonderful honeymoon while remaining within a budget if you keep a few things in mind.

What are your priorities?

What do you want from your honeymoon? The word conjures up expensive resorts and white sand beaches, but is this what you want?

The purpose of a honeymoon is to relax and have space to form further bonds with your partner and celebrate your love. It’s not about taking enviable pictures.

With this in mind, you can score honeymoon deals to lots of places that don’t require a 20-hour plane ride. Think of the cities close to where your wedding takes place. Think of natural beauty and national parks.

If you want the traditional beach vacation, there might be a beach close to you that offers bed and breakfasts or comfortable apartments for short term rent.

You can also wait a little bit before taking a honeymoon so that you have time to find better deals. If that works for your schedule, it will help you save money because your time is more flexible.

How do you find the best deals?

A lot of people have abandoned the idea of working with a travel agent in the age of the internet, but a travel agent can save you a lot of time by finding the right deals. It’s worth it to check in. You might be able to save yourself cash and time.

You can also register for a honeymoon through new websites. Some travel agencies allow guests to contribute to funds for travel packages or to sponsor certain activities during the honeymoon.

If your wedding is off-season, or you can wait to honeymoon, travel during the off-season of locations saves a lot of money. And it’s not a weather issue. Off season typically means the times of year when people are less likely to have a chance to travel or less liable to want the type of weather available. You can have your beach vacation in January without sacrificing the sun.

If you’re doing your planning early, you also get better deals. Cruises offer early bird pricing, and resorts frequently do the same. Having some lead time to think about the honeymoon well in advance keeps you from scrambling last minute, begging for discounts.

You should also consider all your alternatives. Alternate airports, alternate locales, and alternate modes of travel. Thinking outside the standard box could save you hundreds of dollars. For example, you could fly into a smaller airport and rent a car or take a train the final way to your destination.

What are some budget honeymoon activities?

You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to have fun on your honeymoon. Sometimes the best memories are made with something simple. Think about some fun, but unconventional activities you could do.

You could rent a bike or explore a city on foot. Slowing down allows you to take everything in at a romantic pace. You could also head out under the stars for an evening picnic. Take a few candles that won’t obscure your view of the heavens, and talk for long hours on a blanket. Be sure to stay safe around an open flame if you choose this option.

You could bring some favorite board games and introduce your new spouse to an important part of your childhood. You can also get a couple’s massage instead of springing for an expensive spa package.

If you’re outdoorsy, you could rent camping equipment and head to the mountains, or pack your own food and spend all day at a beach nearby. Basic snorkeling equipment is easy to rent or cheap to buy.

If you do opt for a honeymoon package, take some time before you purchase to add up all the costs. It’s tempting to go for a package deal, but sometimes it isn’t a better deal once you add everything up. Slow down and think about all the pieces.

What if your budget is still coming up short?

If you’re still having problems booking your dream honeymoon on a budget, plan for your wedding night and postpone the trip for later. With everything related to travel, flexibility is the most important factor in getting a good deal. Maybe in 3 months, you’ll find a resort or hotel with some empty rooms, and they’ll be more likely to offer you something within your budget.

If they don’t, you’ll have more time to save money to get exactly what you want at exactly the right time.

Even if you have a tight budget, you can still have a special honeymoon by prioritizing, planning ahead, and making some unconventional choices. Even if you have to postpone until a later date, it’ll still be a dream.

Sandra Moncada is a cycling enthusiast, who frequently escapes to hang out with her literary and movie heroes. She is vitamin D’s biggest fan, who is passionate about meditation, pilates and beating stress. When she’s not floating in the ocean or her outdoor pool, she loves to write about lifestyle, self-development and stress-relief methods. You can connect with her @SandramoncadaOh

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Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by! My name is Samantha and you've found my travel blog! This website started out as a way to keep my family and friends back home in the loop while I studied abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and it's grown to be so much more than that! These days I do not have the luxury to travel like I used to, but it is still my passion in life! Therefore, along with my own posts, please enjoy articles provided by my fabulous guest bloggers!